Locals want compo for environmental damage

By PATRICK TALU
ENVIRONMENTALLY affected communities from the Hides 4 petroleum development licence 7 (PDL7) say a compensation package offered by LNG project operator Esso Highlands Ltd (EHL) does not cover damage done to their environment.
Gigira Hides 4 Joint Venture (GH4JV) chairman, Willie Ayule yesterday urged affected landowners to refuse a K1 million compensation package for environment damage done during early work by Esso.
Ayule said the K1 million compensation for the 250ha of environment damaged was not enough .
The substantial damage
to their environment included food gardens, drinking water/creeks, hunting areas, traditional ritual sites, bushes and forests.
The damaged area was a source of firewood, building materials and food.
“The damage done to our environment is a lifetime. We will not get back our bushes, gardens, drinking water and other integral parts of our heritage that existed from time immemorial,” Ayule said.
“Environmental damage to 250ha is substantial and people will not be happy with the offer.
“Does EHL think that environment damage to 250ha is a minor issue that it can just shut us up with K1 million?
“We are not as primitive as outsiders perceive and that they can fool us and walk away freely.
“We cannot accept this compensation until and unless an independent environment assessment report verifies the damage done and that it assesses that the damage done to our environment is valued at K1 million,” he said.
Ayule said he had already engaged a law firm and environmental consultant to respectively file proceedings against EHL and do an independent environment damage assessment report.
He said officers from EHL went to Para Village, Hides 4, last week to negotiate the compensation but their offer was rejected.
EHL media and communication adviser Rebecca Arnold could not be reached for comment.